With less than three months remaining for the 20th Asian Games in Japan, Nepal’s preparations have entered the final phase as the country’s two top sports bodies presented a rare display of unity on Thursday after months of uncertainty over the country’s participation.

Speaking at a panel discussion titled ‘Nepal in Asian Games: Road to Aichi-Nagoya 2026’, which was organised on the occasion of World Sports Journalists Day by the Nepal Sports Journalists Forum (NSJF), officials from the National Sports Council (NSC) and the Nepal Olympic Committee (NOC) said they were working together to finalise Nepal’s contingent and intensify preparations for the continental showpiece.

The Asian Games will be held in Nagoya, Aichi, from September 19 to October 4.

The NSC has been running its ‘Mission 2026’ closed training camp since the conclusion of the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023, targeting Nepal’s best-ever performance at the continental event. The ambitious programme aims to help Nepal win at least one gold medal and take its overall medal tally into double figures for the first time.

“The camp has helped us improve significantly because we have been able to train continuously,” said karateka Arika Gurung, former Asian Games’ silver medallist.

With the Games approaching, the Council now plans to strengthen preparations by sending athletes abroad for high-performance training.

“It is high time our athletes train in the best possible environment,” said NSC Member Secretary Ram Charitra Mehta. “We are in discussions with the national associations, and they are coordinating with their respective international federations to arrange overseas training.”

Mehta said the Council had finalised Nepal’s participation in 23 sports with 140 athletes. A budget of Rs28 million has been allocated for Mission 2026 and Rs112 million for Nepal’s participation in the Asian Games, he added.

Last year, uncertainty surrounded Nepal’s participation after the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Nepal Olympic Committee separately submitted lists of sports and athletes to the organisers, creating confusion over the country’s official entries.

However, Mehta and NOC President Jeevan Ram Shrestha appeared on the same stage on Thursday and stressed that the two organisations were now coordinating closely.

“We are coordinating with the NSC to determine which sports and athletes will represent the country,” Shrestha said. “The NOC is working closely with the NSC to ensure Nepal’s proper and effective participation in the Asian Games.”

Their joint appearance was viewed by many in attendance as a sign that the dispute between the country’s two principal sports authorities had eased, allowing attention to shift towards preparations.

Despite the optimism, concerns over Nepal’s domestic sporting calendar remained.

Kabiraj Negi Lama, the volunteer coach who guided Palesha Goverdhan to Nepal’s historic bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, questioned why the National Games had still not been organised.

“Traditionally, the National Games have been the platform to identify new talent, and those athletes go on to represent Nepal at the South Asian Games, Asian Games and Olympics,” Lama said. “The delay has affected athletes. We also expected the first National Para Games to be held alongside the 10th National Games.”

Responding to the concern, Mehta said the NSC board would decide the dates for both the 10th National Games and the inaugural National Para Games at its next board meeting.

“The dates will be set after the conclusion of the Asian Games,” Mehta said.

Athletes, meanwhile, said they were more optimistic than ever about Nepal’s prospects.

“I hear a lot about the past,” Gurung said. “There was a time when athletes and stakeholders lacked the belief that Nepal could win medals, and participation itself was considered an achievement. But that mindset is changing. Mission 2026 has allowed many athletes to train consistently and build the confidence that they can compete for medals. We believe the 20th Asian Games will be different for Nepal.”

Mehta, however, decided not to predict a double-digit medal haul.

“We will win medals, but I am not sure how many, so let’s not talk in numbers,” he said. “What I can say with confidence is that Nepal’s results will be better than in previous editions with the blessings of Pashupatinath.”